Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO. Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality. A true gem in the Midwest! Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003. Email reservations@whretreat.org 7400 Christopher Rd. St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

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Weekend Reflections for 6/10/16

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgivenbecause she has shown great love. (Luke 7, 47)

On a number of occasions in the Gospels we hear Jesus telling persons that their sins are forgiven or that they are to avoid sinning in the future. Jesus does not seem to be interested in hearing from them how they have sinned. Rather he focuses on what is in their heart, the nature of their faith and their love for Him.

The scene in this Sunday’ gospel of the woman washing Jesus' hair at the abode of Simon the Pharisee is a good example of this. The woman reveals to Jesus how contrite she is for the manner in which she has lived her life by her unusual but loving gesture of cleansing his feet with her tears and hair. Because of her sorrow and contrition for how she has been living and because of her deep love of Jesus, He immediately and openly forgives her.

For me this is the ideal manner in which we should approach the sacrament of reconciliation or confession. What is important is not the complete numeration of all that we've done wrong-- something we probably never fully grasp or are capable of apprehending, nor is it the exact recitation of the act of contrition. Jesus simply wants to know if we're sorry for the evil or harm we have done, and that in doing this we have offended Him and have ignored or neglected His love for us.